Georgians Asked to Vote for Favorite State Park

Win $100K from Coke for Recreation

ATLANTA, June 10, 2013 -- June is “National Great Outdoors Month,” and Georgia’s State Park system is asking citizens to help crown “America’s Favorite Park” and win a $100,000 grant for outdoor recreation. The national contest is part of Coca-Cola’s America Is Your Park campaign which encourages families to get active outdoors. Anyone can vote online at www.Coke.com/parks through July 15.

“We know that Georgians are passionate about their favorite state parks, and we’re asking for their help,” State Parks Director Becky Kelley. “E-mail your friends, post links on Facebook, and send out Tweets. Better yet, use foursquare because it earns more votes every time you check in. A little support from a lot of people can help one or more of Georgia’s State Parks win this national contest.”

The fourth annual Coca-Cola America Is Your Park campaign will award $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000 grants to the top three ranking parks in the country. A fourth park will be chosen at random from the remaining top 25 to win a $15,000 grant. Georgians can vote as often as they wish on www.Coke.com/parks until July 15, and checking in with foursquare earns five votes.

The more people are active outdoors, the more votes they can earn for their favorite park. To encourage more activity outdoors, votes will be doubled on the first day of summer (June 21) and the last weekend of voting (July 13 and 14).
Voting methods include:
1) Earn 10 votes each day by logging at least 20 minutes of physical activity using MapMyFitness.com.
2) Earn five (5) votes per day by “checking in” at a park via foursquare.
3) Earn one (1) vote by registering online at www.Coke.com/parks and voting with a computer or smartphone.

Georgia has more than 40 state parks, from Cloudland Canyon and Vogel in the north Georgia mountains, to High Falls and Hard Labor Creek in middle Georgia, and Kolomoki Mounds and Crooked River in southern Georgia. Park visitors enjoy fishing, boating, camping, hiking, geocaching, padding and numerous other outdoor activities. Throughout the year, rangers offer programs such as guided paddles and hikes, nature crafts for children, wilderness survival and outdoor concerts.

To learn more about Georgia’s State Parks, visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org, and to register for voting, visit www.Coke.com/parks.

Coca-Cola has donated more than $14 million in recreation grants and partnerships to help keep families active in the great outdoors. Through America Is Your Park, Coca-Cola is continuing its partnership with the National Park Foundation, America’s State Parks and the National Recreation and Park Association. Last year’s winners were parks in Alabama, New York and Floriday, with the “wild card” $15,000 winner being Swift-Cantrell, a city park in Kennesaw, Georgia.

“We were very glad to see a fellow Georgia park win last year,” said Kelley. “Any time citizens get outside and enjoy active lifestyles is great. And we hope that one of Georgia’s State Parks is among the winners for 2013.”